3 Brutal Takeaways From Broncos' 10-7 Win vs. Raiders on TNF
The Denver Broncos narrowly defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 10-7 on Thursday night, marking their seventh consecutive win and improving to 8-2 for the first time since 2015. Despite the victory, the game was far from impressive.
Offensive Struggles Highlighted
This was the least encouraging Broncos win in the Payton/Nix era. The offense was notably poor, with several stalled drives and a series of three-and-outs. The team's performance underlines how much work is needed to improve the offense.
Questionable Play-Calling Decisions
Head coach and play-caller Sean Payton made puzzling calls, including a trick play on 3rd-and-1 in the third quarter that resulted in a five-yard loss. A pass to Courtland Sutton behind the line of scrimmage was anticipated and stopped by the Raiders. While Sutton was expected to throw the ball downfield, all receivers were covered, leading to lost yardage.
"Explain why a savvy play-caller would get his ground game going on a much-needed third-quarter drive, only to call a head-scratching trick play on 3rd-&-1 that lost five yards."
This setback pushed a manageable 53-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz back to a much tougher 58-yard try.
Bo Nix’s Tough Performance
Compounding the offensive issues, Bo Nix arguably had his worst game as a professional, struggling with consistency on the field and contributing to the Broncos’ offensive woes.
Overall Reflection
Despite the ugly appearance of the game, the Broncos continue to hold a strong record. However, the offense's inefficiency remains a critical concern that must be addressed to maintain their momentum.
"The Broncos had so many three-and-outs vs. the Raiders that I honestly lost count."
Author’s summary: The Broncos’ narrow win showed resilience but exposed severe offensive flaws, emphasizing that improvement in play-calling and execution is crucial moving forward.